Cooling system

 Engine Cooling System:

 How It Works and Main Components:

The engine produces a high amount of heat that needs to cool down for the efficient functioning of the vehicle. Cooling down an engine involves complex mechanisms and components that work together to ensure everything is well within the temperature range.

Let’s look at the car cooling system parts and functions to understand our favorite machines better.

1. Water Pump:

The water pump is what carries the coolant through the engine. As the burning fuel produces around 4,500 degrees of heat, it is essential to draw off the heat from the engine to avoid damage and failure.

2. Radiator:

When the coolant circulates through the hot engine, it heats up. The radiator helps to cool down the coolant before it starts the process all over again. The anti-freeze moves through metal fins for heat dissipation.

3. Radiator Cap:

The radiator cap is also known as a pressure cap, as its primary function is to maintain the pressure in the cooling system. The high pressure in the car cooling system increases the boiling point of the coolant, thereby helping it cool down more efficiently.

4. Cooling Fan:

The radiator contains cooling fans that drive fresh air over the radiator, allowing the engine to be cooled down further. However, the fan is functional only when the engine gets to 230°F or more.

5. Heater Core:

The heater core acts as a mini radiator, wherein it extracts the heat from the hot coolant and blows it into the cabin. It is how you get the blast of warm air in your car cabin when it is freezing outside. 

6. Overflow Tank/Coolant Expansion Tank:

The coolant expansion tank acts as a reservoir for excess coolant whenever there is a change in the volume. For instance, when the coolant gets hot, it expands. The overflow tank then holds the additional quantity, thereby maintaining the accurate level of coolant in the cooling system.

7. Thermostat:

The engine has to go through all kinds of temperatures, ranging from extremely hot to extremely cold. The thermostat is what regulates the coolant entry through the system.

8. Hoses:

The hoses are a series of pipes that connect the radiator and the engine so that the coolant can flow through them. They are made from durable material as they have to go through a lot of pressure and high temperatures. 

9. Freeze Plug:

Freeze Plug is another car cooling system part that helps to protect the engine. As water expands when it freezes, the coolant can also freeze in cold areas when the vehicle is sitting idle. The freezing coolant is a threat to the engine block and may even crack it.